High-speed camera with internal real-time image processing

High-speed video cameras are powerful tools for investigating for instance the dynamics of fluids or the movements of mechanical parts in manufacturing processes. In the past years, the use of CMOS sensors instead of CCDs have made possible the development of high-speed video cameras offering digital outputs, readout flexibility and lower manufacturing costs. In this field, we designed a new fast CMOS camera with a 1280×1024 pixels resolution at 500 fps. In order to transmit from the camera only useful information from the fast images, we studied some specific algorithms like edge detection, wavelet analysis, image compression and object tracking. These image processing algorithms have been implemented into a FPGA embedded inside the camera. This FPGA technology allows us to process fast images in real time.